BY JULIET EKWENUGO
Akure
The Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria in the 19 Northern States and the Federal Capital Territory, Rev. Joseph John Hayab, has said no Nigerian deserves to be killed on account of religion, warning that faith-based violence remains a serious threat to national unity and peaceful coexistence.
Hayab made the assertion in Akure, the Ondo State capital, during a condolence visit to the Catholic Bishop of Ondo Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Jude Arogundade, over the June 2022 terrorist attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, which claimed the lives of over 40 worshippers during a Sunday Mass.
He described the Owo massacre as a national tragedy that transcends regional boundaries, noting that similar attacks had been experienced in several parts of the country, particularly in the North. According to him, the visit was aimed at personally identifying with the diocese, encouraging survivors and families of victims through relief materials, and reaffirming the solidarity of Northern Christians with communities affected by terror attacks nationwide.
The Northern CAN chairman called on governments at all levels to prioritise the protection of lives, ensure justice for victims, and take decisive action against perpetrators, stressing that peace and national cohesion cannot thrive in an atmosphere of fear and impunity.
“No Nigerian deserves to die because of his or her faith. What happened in Owo concerns every Nigerian. We have seen this repeatedly in the North, and the pain is the same everywhere,” Hayab said.
Speaking during the visit, former Chairman of CAN in Ondo State and former President of the Ondo State Baptist Conference, Rev. Dr. Ayo Oladapo, described Bishop Arogundade as a father figure and a unifying voice for Christians in the state and beyond, adding that the suffering of one part of the Christian body affects the whole.
Rev. Fr. Anslem Ologunwa, Chairman of CAN in Ondo State, who led the delegation to Bishop Arogundade, highlighted the bishop’s personal journey, noting 15 years as Bishop of the diocese and 35 years in priesthood.
He also drew attention to the care extended to victims, including a survivor permanently on a wheelchair following a double amputation, emphasizing that the pain of the victims remains a collective responsibility for the Church and the nation.
Fr. Ologunwa disclosed that no fewer than 60 children of the victims are benefiting from five-year scholarships under the church in various tertiary institutions. The church also continues to support families affected by the tragedy.
In his response, Bishop Arogundade thanked Hayab for the visit, describing it as a strong gesture of empathy and unity. He said the visit reinforced the message that the Church remains united across regions and denominations in the face of violence.
While noting the efforts of some political leaders to unite the country, the Bishop also commended the Kaduna State government for sponsoring the first Christmas carol aimed at countering the divisive phase left behind by the previous administration.
He lamented the brutal loss of lives during the Owo massacre, recounting the horrific injuries suffered by some victims, including children, and appealed to government authorities to take decisive action to ensure that citizens can live together in peace.
Earlier, Hayab visited the First Baptist Church, Akure, where the President of the Nigerian Baptist Convention, Rev. Dr. Israel Akanji, described him as a pride to Christendom and a worthy ambassador of the Baptist family within CAN leadership and the global Christian community, noting that his presence in Ondo State was symbolic and encouraging.
The Northern CAN chairman was received by senior Christian leaders in the state and was accompanied by Barrister Dr. Grace Kaka, Director of Legal and Public Affairs and Special Adviser on Media to the Northern CAN Chairman, as well as Mr. Austine Agbo Emmanuel.
